Approved on 4 December 1986, the 501st Military Intelligence Brigade Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (unit patch) has a field vertically bisected into areas of silver gray and oriental blue, official branch colors of the Military Intelligence Corps. The gold used for the border, double-warded key, and lightning flashes connotes excellence. A double-warded (two-sided) key symbolizes authority and control, with its ability to lock a reference to security; its two sides also allude to the union of military intelligence and security command. Lightning flashes are emblematic of the speed of worldwide electrical communications.
The 501st Military Intelligence Brigade was originally constituted as the 501st Communication Reconnaissance Group in the Regular Army on 13 October 1950; it was activated a week later at Camp Pickett (today's Fort Barfoot) in Virginia on October 20. During the Korean War, the Group participated in a total of six campaigns, garnering a Meritorious Unit Commendation and a Republic of Presidential Unit Citation for its exceptional service.
Following its redesignation as the 501st Army Security Agency Group in 1956, the unit was subsequently inactivated from 1957 until 1 January 1978, when it was redesignated the 501st Military Intelligence Group and activated in Korea. It was given its current designation Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 501st Military Intelligence Brigade on 16 October 1986, with its HHC being redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment from 16 October 1992 until 16 November 1995 when it reverted back to HHC. It retains that designation today and serves under the motto IN UNITATE ET VIGILIA, Latin for "In Unity And Vigilance.
Related Items
501st Military Intelligence Brigade Unit Crest (DUI)
501st Military Intelligence Brigade Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)